The story of a 36-year-old Chief Executive Officer who is now heading the Agricultural Rural Development Authority (ARDA) has been described by President Emerson Mnangagwa as a lesson to many youths in the country.
Seven months ago, Tinotenda Mhiko was appointed ARDA substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) after acting for three months.
It was no better choice for the Zimbabwe, Russia and UK educated young man, a specialist in post-harvest technology.
And now, he has led a project at Bubi-Lupane irrigation that manipulated Kalahari sands into a wheat production hub never seen before in the region.
“For me it, is an honour and it is a huge milestone it means a lot for my peers which they should emulate nothing is impossible as long as the vision is there,” Mhiko says.
The young CEO who has transformed what was a bush just a year ago into a thriving 160 hectares of wheat, has earned the accolades of praise from the country’s President.
“Our young people go around placing CVs under doors. These ones chose to come and work here. This is amazing for our young people helping us improve our agriculture,” said President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
ARDA itself says it will give more opportunities to young graduates.
ARDA board chairperson Craig Irvine said: “These are skills we want to train and promote within ARDA. They speak to our vision of reviving agriculture.”
After majoring in Agronomy, young Mhiko is now studying for a doctorate in Agri Food Robotics majoring in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Algorithms.
At 36 years of age, his academic achievements are being transferred to agricultural production in an amazing way.
